Trump Media is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire the cryptocurrency trading platform Bakkt, causing shares of both companies to surge. Trump Media, owned by President-elect Donald Trump, saw its stock rise over 16%, while Bakkt's shares skyrocketed by more than 162% amid trading halts. This move marks Trump's further expansion into the cryptocurrency sector as he prepares to enter the White House. Bakkt, founded in 2018, has faced financial challenges, including a risk of delisting from the NYSE.
Trump Media's CFO Phillip Juhan, along with two other insiders, sold over $16 million in company stock following the presidential election. Juhan sold 384,000 shares, while director Eric Swider and general counsel Scott Glabe sold smaller amounts. Despite a market cap of $6.3 billion, Trump Media reported only $1 million in revenue for Q3 and a $19.2 million loss. The company's Truth Social app has a low user base compared to competitors. The stock sales were part of pre-planned trading strategies.
On Election Day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6%, reclaiming a key support level, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also saw gains. Trump Media & Technology surged 14% amid election volatility. The Institute of Supply Management's services index exceeded expectations, and the 10-year Treasury yield slightly increased. Notable stock movements included Palantir's 21% rise after strong earnings and Super Micro Computer's continued decline following accounting issues. The Federal Reserve's interest rate decision is anticipated on Thursday.
Several stocks are experiencing significant premarket movements, including Trump Media, Hims & Hers, and Palantir. These shifts are drawing attention from investors as they prepare for the trading day.
Two men, Michael and Gerald Shvartsman, pleaded guilty to insider trading in securities related to the merger of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) with a blank-check company. They illegally traded on inside information, making a total of $22 million in illegal profit. The company's shares have been volatile, and Trump's stake is currently worth about $4 billion. The Shvartsmans are scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, and the average prison sentence for federal fraud cases in the U.S. last year was around two years.
Two investors in Trump Media, Michael and Gerald Shvartsman, pleaded guilty to securities fraud in connection with an insider trading scheme related to the merger of Digital World Acquisition Corporation and Trump Media & Technology Group. The brothers, along with a third individual, allegedly made over $22 million in illegal profits by trading on nonpublic information about the impending deal. The frenzy on Wall Street began after former President Donald Trump revealed plans to merge his new social media business with a special purpose acquisition company. The guilty pleas serve as a reminder of the consequences of corrupting the integrity of the stock market, and the Trump Media merger finally closed last week, leading to a surge in share price and a financial windfall for Trump.
Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, saw its stock plummet over 22% following an updated regulatory filing revealing heavy losses and "greater risks" associated with Donald Trump's ties to the platform. The filing disclosed sales of just over $4 million and net losses of nearly $60 million for the full-year ending Dec. 31, with expectations of continued losses. The success of Truth Social largely hinges on the "reputation and popularity" of Trump, and stakeholders are subject to a six-month lockup period before selling or transferring shares, potentially impacting Trump's financial situation amidst legal and fundraising challenges.
